Conserving-valve.



F. H. MONTREUIL.

CONSERVING VALVE.

Ai'FLICATlON FILED SEPT. a. 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

FRANCIS H. MGN'IREUIL. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO WARREN WEBSTER &

' COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

GONSERVING-VALVE.

To all whom z may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. MON- IREUIL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Conserving-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to prov1de an efficient construction of conserving valve for steam heating systems adapted for maintaining an initial operative pressure on the steam supply side of the valve by automatlcally shutting off the delivery of steam to the heating system until the said in tial pressure builds up to or in excess of thepredetermined minimum pressure under which the heating system is to operate, whereby the operation of the vacuum pump of the system shall be assured and the internal condition of the system required shall be present when the steam is admitted thereto.

My object is also to provide a suitable construction of conserving valve which shall, during the operation of the heating system, cause the vacuum pump to be initially operated under a predetermined differential in pressure, the steam to operate the pump being taken from the steam main on the inlet side of the conserving valve, and the exhaust of the steam cylinder of the pump being delivered into the steam main on the outlet side of the conserving valve and leading to the radiators of the heating system, so that the vacuum pump is normally operated, ir-

respective of the variable pressure underwhich the steam may be supplied to the system, after once being, in full operation to provide a partial vacuum. K

- My object is also to provlde a construction of conserving valve of simple and inexpensive character and capable of adjustment for adaptation to a heating system under usual variable conditions, the differential under which the valve is to operate being that between the initial steam pressure and atmospheric pressure supplemented by adjustable mechanical devices such as a weight, or a weight associated with a spring.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more fully understood fromthe description hereinafter,

the invention consists in the novel construc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed September 6, 1916. Serial No. 118,663.

tion of conserving valve as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a conserving valve embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan portions 10, are respectively adapted to the seats 6 and 7 and cooperate as a balanced valve device. .The lower part of the body 2 is closed by a bottom plate 2 The upper part of the body 2 is covered by a bonnet plate 2. The valve stem 11 of thevalves is extended upward and loosely through a hole 16 of the bonnet plate. The stem 11 within the body and between the valve 8 and bonnet plate 2 is provided with a disk 17 having secured to its perimeter the lower end of a bellows member 18, the upper end of which is secured to an annular plate 23 tightly clamped between the body and bonnet to form a steam tight joint. From this construction it will be observed that the valves 8 and 9 are substantially balanced,

and the under side of the disk 17 of the bellows is subjected to the steam pressure of the inlet side, whereas the upper surface of the disk and inside of the bellows is subjected to atmospheric pressure, so that there is a variable differential on opposite sides of the disk 17 according to variations of the steam pressure in the inlet chamber of the conserving valve. The upper end of the valve stem 11 is jointed to the lever 12, said lever hinged by links 13 to the bonnet plate 2 and having its free end provided with an adjustable counterweight 14, whose position on the lever determines the amount of pressure applied to close or tend to close the valve. This lever is also guided by the slotted bracket 13 extending upward from the bonnet plate to steady the lever and.

the spring to either ofthe lurality 12 in the lever 12 and p aclng t lower end connected with a screw threaded rod 20 which passes through a hole 21 in the flange 21 of the bracket, and drawn down by a nut 22, by which the desired tension may be put upon the spring. This spring is preferably of relatively small power as compared to the gravity action of i the weight 14, and its function permits of an accurate adjustment of the opposing 13 is carried in the upper end of the bracket 7 13 to adjust the limit of the upward throw of the lever 12.

The, bellows 18 and its disk 17, not only .act to obviate the necessity of a stuffing box and the incident friction thereof, but provide, in effect, a movable diaphragm affected on one side by the internal steam pressure and on the other side by atmospheric pressure assisted by the adjustable mechanical pressure means. 1

The sprin 19 and its screw threaded rod 20 may be a justed farther out on the lever 12 and flange 21, to increase its power, if so desired, this being accomplished by hooking of holes e rod 20 in the corresponding hole 21 of the flange 21. The increased leverage thus provided through which the spring operates, is desirable where the initial steam pressure is relatively high or where the valves 8 and 9 are not as fully balanced as shown, or both.

Referring to Fig. 3, 24 is the steam main leading from the source of steam and connecting' with the inlet of the conserving valve 2, and 25 is a steam supply pipe lead ing from the outlet of the conserving valve to the radiators, one of which is shown at 26. The steam supplied to the radiator'is controlled by a hand valve 33. The return pipe is shown at 27, being connected with the radiator by a return valve 32 of any suitable construction which permits the passage of air and water from the radiator into the return pipe but restricts or' prevents the passage of steam. 28 is a vacuum pump having its suction connected with the return pipe 27, the dischar e of which may be arran ed in any suita 1e well known manner to directly or indirectl of condensation to the oiler as preferred. The steam cylinder 29 of the vacuum pump receives its supply of steam from the steam main 24 and may exhaust into the steam heating supply pipe 25 connectin with the radiators, or otherwise, as desire It will now be understood that the conreturn the water serving valve is initially closed, and if the valve is adjusted to remain closed until an initial pressure of five pounds is generated, no steam will pass from the boiler to the heating system until this pressure has been reached. Before the steam is supplied to the heating system through the conserving valve, it is supplied to the vacuum pump 28 by the pipe 30 and consequently a partial vacuum is produced in the heating system and the radiators exhausted of air as a preliminary step to the operation of the heating system. When the steam pressure in the -main 24 reaches five pounds, the said prestionable strain is prevented upon the bellows 18.

As the vacuum pump is maintained in operation and the system is cleared of water and air, it is manifest that the heaters br radiators may be made to give out heat to any degree between none and their maximum capacity, dependent upon the adjustment of the steam valve'33.

As the conserving valve is a substantially balanced valve so far as the valves 8 and 9 are concerned, it is immaterial what relat'ive pressures ma be in pipes 24' and 25; and the differential under which the conserving valve operates is assured inasmuch as it is dependent upon atmospheric pressure assisted by definitely adjusted mechanical means and Wholly independent of variable pressures in the steam heating system er se.

If the upper valve 8 be of slightly greater area than the lower valve 9, there will be a corresponding resistance to the opening of the valve, but once the opening movement has begun, the conserving valve as a whole will open quickly under the pressure action upon the under side of thedisk 17; but should any. suchdifi'erence in valve areas be employed they are preferably insuflicient to interfere with the valve bein considered as a substantially balanced va ve. In the particular construction shown, the disk 17 is secured in position upon the stem 11 by nuts .11" and lead washers 11 but this mode of connection may be varied if so desired.

It should be borne'in mind that with the system described, the steam supply to the heater is at all times under automatic throttling control, and with the pump in continuous operation ,irrespective of the .volume or pressure of steam on the outlet through the entire system of piping back to the conserving valve, and the degree uf vacuum on the outlet side of sa1 d valve will be relatively greater when a minimum volume is passing through the valve, as for instance, when the boiler pressure ob ectionably drops on account of firing or other conditions. As the steam actuated piston of the pump is receiving the steam from the boiler side of the conserving valve and is exhausting into the system on the heater side of the conserving valve in which the lower pressure exists, it is manifest that the pump will be operating on a differential pressure governed by the pressures on the opposite sides of the conserving valve, and in this Waythe pump will continue to operate irrespective of material changes in the boiler pressure, thereby making the system automatic and independent of the maintenance of any definite minimum boiler pressure after the system has been put into operation.

The automatic conserving valve is set to open initially and admit steam into the heating system when the pressure on the inlet side exceeds that required tooperate the pump; and it remains'closed until or after that pressure is reached and thus' permits no steam to pass into the heating system until the pump has started and exhausted the air. Consequently, due to this advance operation of the vacuum pump, a partial vacuum may be created within the return system before the steam reaches the radiators, and quicker circulation is established. Inversely, if the boiler pressure should drop, due to irregular firing or to other causes, so that the heating system receives no steam except from the pump ex haust, or if steam is purposely cut off from the heating system, the pump, taking its steam from the high pressure side of the conserving valve, will continue to operate and thus insure the return of all condensation to the boiler, preventing the damage to the boiler which might otherwise occur.

It will be noted that after a partial vacuum has been created throughout the system, the pum in maintaining t is vacuum even when the boiler pressure falls below the initial pressure required to start the pump, because, when the heating system is operating on a partial vacuum, the absolute pressure required to operate the pump may be supplied by the diiferential due to the presence of the conserving valve irrespective of the actual steam pressure in the boiler, and hence the system is operative for the various fluctuations possible in the boiler pressure.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of valve which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while will continue to operate I have in the present instance 'shown and described the preferred embodiment there of which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, the

combination of a body having inlet and outlet ports and a thoroughfare between them, a valve to control the thoroughfare having a stem extending to the outside of the case, an expansible member having one part connected with the valve stem to move with it and the other part connected with the body 85 and' subjected on one side to. the pressure of the atmosphere and on the other side to the pressure within the body on the inlet side to open the valve, and a weighted lever connected to the body and operating upon the 90 valve stem to close the valve against the inlet pressure acting upon the expansible member. 2. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a body having inlet and outlet ports and a thoroughfare between them, a valve to control the thoroughfare having a stem extending to the outside of the case,' an expansible member having one part connected with the valve stem to move with it and the other part connected with the body and subjected on one side to the pressure of the atmosphere and on the other side to the pressure within the body on the inlet side to open the valve, and an adjustable weighted lever connected to the body and operating upon the valve stem to close the valve against the inlet pressure "acting upon the expansible member.

3. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a body having inlet and out: let ports and a thoroughfare between them, a valve to control the thoroughfare having a stem extending ,to the outside of the case,

an expansible member having one part con- 115 nected with the valve stem to move with it and the other part connected with the body and subjected on one side to the pressure of the atmosphere and on the other'side to the pressure within the body on the inlet side 120 to open the valve, a weighted lever connected to the body and operating upon the valve stem to close the valve against the inlet pressure acting upon theexpansible member, and a spring connected with the lever 125 and cooperating 'with the weight thereof for closing the valve.

4. In a device of the-character stated, the combination of a body having inlet and outlet ports and a thoroughfare between them, 130

a valve to control the thoroughfare having a stem extending to the outside of the case, an expansible member having one part connected with the valve stem to move with it 5 and the other part connected with the body and subjected on one side to the pressure of the atmosphere and on the other side to the pressure within the body on the inlet side to open the valve, a weighted lever connected to the body and operating upon the valve stem to close the valve against the inlet pressure acting upon the expansible member, a spring connected with the lever andcooperating with the Weight thereof for closing the valve, and means to adjust the tension of the spring. I

5. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a body having inlet and outlet ports and a thoroughfare between them, a valve to control the thoroughfare having a stem extending to the outside of the case, an

expansible member having one part con- 4 nected with the valve stem to move with it and the other part connected with the body and subjected on one side to the pressure of the atmosphere and on the other side to the prewure within the body on the inlet side to open the valve, a weighted lever connected to the body and operating upon the valve stem to close the valve against the inlet pressure acting upon the expansible member, a spring connected with the lever and cooperating with the weight thereof for closing the valve, and means to change the point of connection of the spring with the lever.

6. In a device-of the character stated, the combination of the body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a substantially balanced valve device controlling the thoroughfare, a valve stem for operatmg the valve device extending to the outside of the body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows structure having one end secured to the disk and the other end to the body and its interior in communication with the outside atmosphere, said disk and bellows acted upon by the inlet pressure to operate the valve and stem in opening the valve, and mechanically applied pressure devices exterior to the body for applying pressure upon the stem to close the valve in opposition to the pressure upon the bellows to open it.

7 In a device'of the character stated, the combination of the body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a substantially balanced valve device controlling the'thoroughfare, a valve stem for operatin the valve device extending'to the outside 0 the .body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows structure having one end secured to the disk and theother end/to the body and its interior in communication-with erate the valve and stem in opening the valve, mechanically applied pressure devices exterior to the body for applying pressure upon the stem to close the valve in opposition to the pressure upon thebellows to open it, and means to adjust the mechanically applied pressure.

8. In a device of the character stated, the combination of the body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a substantially balanced valve device controlling the thoroughfare, a valve stem for operating the valve device extending to the outside of the body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows structure having one end secured to the disk and the other end to the body and its interior in communication with the outside atmosphere said disk and bellows acted upon by theinlet pressure to operate the valve and stem in opening the valve, mechanically applied pressure devices exterior to the body for applying pressure upon the stemto close the valve in' opposition to the pressure upon thebellows to open it, and means to adjust the mechanically. applied pressure comprising a lever having an adjustable weight.

9. In a device of the character stated, the

combination of the body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a substantially balanced valve device controlling the thoroughfare, a valve stem for operating the valve device extending to the outside of the body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows structure having one end secured tothe disk and theother end to the body and its interior in communication with the outside atmosphere said disk and bellows acted upon by the inlet pressure to operate the valve and stem in opening the valve, mechanically applied pressure devices exterior to' the body for applying pressure upon the stem to close the valve in opposition to the pressure comprising a weighted lever and a spring device connected with the lever and cooperating with the weight thereof.

10. In a device of the character stated, the combination of the body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a substantially balanced valve device controlling the thoroughfare, a valve stem for operatlng the valve device extending to the outside of the body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows structure having one end secured to the disk and the otherend to the body and its interior in communication with the outside atmosphere said disk and bellows acted upon by the inlet pressure to operate the valve and stem in opening 'the valve, mechanically applied pressure devices I extemor to the body for applying pressure upon the stem to close the valve in opposition to the pressure upon the bellows to open it, means to adjust the mechanically applied pressure comprising a Weighted lever and a spring device connected with the lever and cooperating with the weight thereof, and means to adjust the tension of the said sprmg.

11. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a body having inlet and outlet ports, and a thoroughfare between them, a valve device controlling the thoroughfare and having a stem extending to the outside of the body, a disk secured to the stem, a bellows surroundin the stem and. having one end secured to t -e perimeter of the disk, a second disk secured to the other end of the bellows and clamped to the body whereby the interior of the bellows is in communication with the atmosphere and the outside of the bellows and first-mentioned disk subject to the pressure within the body on the inlet side of the valve, and mechanical means outside of the body for applying pressure upon the 'valve stem to close the valve.

In testimony of which invention, 1 hereunto set my hand.

FRANCIS H. MONTBEUIL. Witnesses:

JAs, FINN, Monms J. BROWN, 

